For many of us, packing up our lives and setting off on a motorcycle adventure around the world is the ultimate dream.
For Kinga Tanajewska, the woman behind the hugely popular On Her Bike YouTube channel, that dream became a reality nine years ago. But her journey to a life of freedom on two wheels involves a devastating accident, an extraordinary recovery, and a determination to live life on her own terms.
In the latest episode of the ABR Podcast, we sit down with Kinga to discover how an Australian motorcycle adventure turned into a global epic and why she has no plans to stop.
[WATCH INTERVIEW BELOW OF LISTEN ON SPOTIFYHERE].
Recorded live at the 2026 ABR Festival, our conversation takes us from the remote Australian Outback to the mountains of South America, with plenty of remarkable adventures, laughter, and some deeply personal stories along the way.
And, as we discover, the road to becoming one of the world’s best-known motorcycle travellers has been anything but smooth.
How On Her Bike began
Kinga was born in Poland and moved to Australia, where she worked as a structural engineer in the mining industry. She’d been riding motorcycles since she was 16, but it wasn’t until 2013 that she discovered the joys of adventure riding.
That year, she bought a BMW F 800 GS and set off to explore Australia alone, despite having virtually no off-road riding experience. It was a baptism of fire, but the trip changed her life.
“I realised that nothing gives you this unconditional freedom like solo riding,” she tells us. “Every day you wake up and you do what the hell you want.”
It was also during this adventure that On Her Bike was born. What began as a few simple YouTube videos would eventually become a hugely successful channel, with more than 700 episodes documenting Kinga’s travels.
But just as her passion for motorcycle adventure was growing, her life took a devastating turn.
The motorcycle accident that changed everything
In 2015, Kinga was involved in a head-on collision with a car that left her with a broken hand, a broken leg, and severe post-traumatic stress.
In the months that followed, her marriage ended, and she struggled with depression. The crash had affected her so profoundly that she couldn’t imagine riding a motorcycle again.
Yet, despite everything she’d been through, the thought of giving up motorcycling was unbearable.
What followed was a long road to recovery, but in 2017 Kinga finally found herself ready to embark on the journey she’d been dreaming about.
She climbed aboard a replacement BMW F 800 GS, affectionately named Chilli, and set off from Australia on a solo round-the-world adventure.
Nine years later, she’s still riding.
Nine years, one BMW F 800 GS, and countless adventures
Since leaving Australia, Kinga has crossed Siberia, explored Mongolia, spent three years in Africa, and travelled extensively through North and South America.
Along the way, she’s built a career sharing her adventures on YouTube, established a loyal following, and ridden her beloved BMW F 800 GS almost 200,000km.
In the podcast, Kinga reveals why she’s never been tempted to replace Chilli, how she funds her extraordinary lifestyle, and what she’s learned from spending so much of her life alone in some of the world’s most remote places.
We also discuss the realities of being a full-time motorcycle traveller, including the loneliness that occasionally creeps in, the demands of running a successful YouTube channel, and why she’s become a more relaxed rider over the years.
And, of course, there are the adventures themselves. Kinga recalls her recent travels through Venezuela, a country she fell in love with despite the warnings she received before visiting.
She also shares the story of a particularly disastrous day in the Colombian Andes involving mechanical problems, two crashes, and a mysterious stranger who appeared just when she needed help most.
It’s an extraordinary tale, told with the infectious humour and enthusiasm that have made On Her Bike such a joy to follow.
Watch or listen to Kinga Tanajewska on the ABR Podcast
Whether you’ve been following Kinga’s adventures for years or you’re discovering On Her Bike for the first time, this is a conversation not to be missed.
It’s funny, moving, and packed with fascinating insights into what it really takes to spend nine years travelling the world on a motorcycle.
And, above all, it’s a reminder that some of life’s greatest adventures begin when you find the courage to take that first step.
Watch the full Kinga Tanajewska interview on the Adventure Bike Rider YouTube channel, or listen to the latest episode of the ABR Podcast on Spotify and other major podcast platforms.
